The felony charges against Semaji Jamal Clemons stem from a July 19 home invasion in which he allegedly assaulted a woman and her minor son at their Inver Grove Heights residence.

Each charge carries a maximum sentence of up to 20 years. Clemons' bail was set at $1 million. His next appearance in Dakota County District Court is scheduled for Aug. 15.

Son tries to intervene

According to court documents filed against Clemons, around 2:45 p.m. on July 19 officers were dispatched to an Inver Grove Heights residence on a report of an assault in progress.

When officers arrived, they heard crying from a back bedroom and blood covered the floor and surrounding area. As an officer approached the bedroom, a man, later identified as Clemons, exited the room with blood allegedly covering his pants and shoes, court documents say.

Police found an injured woman in the bedroom crying for help. She had stab wounds to her back and a deep cut on the front of her neck.

As medics assisted the woman, court documents say she told police that Clemons allegedly entered her home and went to her son's room, grabbing the boy by the neck and bringing him into the room with his mother.

The woman told police Clemons allegedly punched her and her son in the head multiple time. The boy was able to run to a neighbor's to get help.

After the boy left, Clemons shut the bedroom door and allegedly attempted to sexually assault the woman, court documents say.

The boy returned with a box cutter in an attempt to protect his mother, but Clemons allegedly took the blade from the child, tellling him to turn away. Court documents say the child attempted to fight Clemons, who allegedly stabbed the woman in the back in order to make the boy follow his orders.

Clemons then allegedly cut the woman's throat, court documents say, telling her that she was going to die.

The woman told police that she'd feared for both her and her son's lives, and that she'd never met Clemons before, court documents say.

Police interviewed the boy and his story matched his mother's.

The woman received more than 10 stitches to close the wound to her throat, which spanned several inches, court documents.

Clemons has previously been convicted of making terroristic threats and aggravated robbery.